AMG Review of Masters of Jazz: Lester Young

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This recording from the European Storyville label has some of tenor saxophonist Lester Young's better live performances from the 1950s. Trumpeter Jesse Drakes is on about half of the set, and the young pianist Horace Silver is heard on three songs from 1951. However, the better performances are from 1956 with Young joined by the Bill Potts Trio and, on four songs, the fine trumpeter Idrees Sulieman. Although Young's health declined gradually throughout the 1950s, his playing (when his strength did not give out) was generally at a fairly high level, actually superior emotionally to his earlier recordings. This is an excellent set of rarities.